George Will thinks pretending rape never happens means he takes rape very seriously

Will "explains" his views on sexual assault by smugly repeating every point in his inaccurate and vile column

Published June 20, 2014 3:26PM (EDT)

     (C-SPAN)
(C-SPAN)

George Will was interviewed on C-SPAN this week and the topic of his recent column declaring that being a victim of sexual assault is a “coveted status that confers privileges" inevitably came up. Will proceeded to "explain" his column by repeating his column, basically point for point. If you would like to read some of the critical responses to that inaccurate and dangerous column feel to read this or this or this or this or this. (Or just read through the stories and responses shared through #survivorprivilege, a hashtag started by writer and anti-violence activist Wagatwe Wanjuki as a rebuttal to Will's column.)

But here are the major takeaways from the interview:

1. George Will does not think much of national statistics

2. George Will says that he cares about rape more than anyone else and takes it more seriously than anyone else, which is why he puts sexual assault in scare quotes

3. George Will says it is his job to put the words sexual assault in scare quotes in order to communicate the seriousness of sexual assault

4. George Will believes that most people who disagree with George Will can't "read, think or write" and are members of "interest groups" (Will has no interests and does not represent the interests of any group, naturally)

5. George Will thinks the Internet is a "wonderful thing," but also thinks it is also not a wonderful thing because it allows people to publicly disagree with George Will

6. George Will does not believe the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "covered themselves with glory" in their decision to drop George Will's column

Here's is the video of George Will repeating his views about rape:

Oh, whoops. I thought that was the real video because George Will's column on rape might as well have been written by a bear drunk on fermented apples. Here's the actual video of the interview:

Oh, whoops. Here's the real interview:


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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Related Topics ------------------------------------------

George Will Rape Sexism Sexual Assault Survivor Privilege Video Violence Against Women